Puka Nacua vs Troy Franklin: Who Should You Start?
The numbers tell a clear story here. Puka Nacua put up 19.4 fantasy points per game for the Los Angeles Rams in 2025, while Troy Franklin managed 8.5 across 17 games with the Denver Broncos. A 10.9-point weekly edge is substantial at the wide receiver position.
A 10.9-PPG gap gives Puka Nacua the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.
Target volume is the story here. Puka Nacua saw 166 targets in 2025, while Troy Franklin drew 104. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for Puka Nacua, even in weeks where Troy Franklin posts the bigger ceiling game. Consistency-minded managers lean toward target share; boom-bust managers chase the upside.
Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Puka Nacua sits Week 6 while Troy Franklin is off Week 14. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.
